Turkish cargo plane crashes in Kyrgyzstan killing dozens

A Turkish plane flying from Hong Kong to Turkey via Kyrgyz capital Bishkek has crashed killing all four crew members and at least 33 people on the ground, officials say.

The early morning crash occurred as a Boeing 747 aircraft operated by ACT Airlines attempted to land in heavy fog at Manas airport, 25km (15 miles) north of Bishkek. The plane hit a nearby village, destroying at least 15 buildings and killing dozens of villagers, including children.

Pictures show the devastating impact of the crash, as the plane ploughed through multiple buildings scattering debris everywhere. Hundreds of volunteers have flocked to the site to help the Kyrgyz army and emergency services search for survivors.

The plane came down at around 7.30am local time. Although weather conditions were bad, the authorities claimed other aircraft had landed at the airport without incident this morning.

Kyrgyzstan Deputy PM Muhammetkaly Abulgaziev said on state TV: “According to preliminary information, the plane crashed due to a pilot error.”

Following the disaster, Manas airport was closed and state officials announced a day of mourning in Kyrgyzstan.

Related posts

The Rio Games concluded on Sunday with the Turkish Olympic team achieving modest success. The 103-strong squad won a gold, three silver and four bronze medals in four different sports – wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo and athletics – leaving them 41st in the national medal table. Turkey’s sole gold came in wrestling. Taha Akgül (pictured below) […]

A Turkish entrepreneur’s incredible inventions, including the so-called “God pill”, have propelled him on to the front cover of America’s leading business publication. Izmir-born Osman Kibar is named by Forbes as one of “30 global game changers” in a feature that will appear in the bi-monthly magazine’s 10 May 2016 issue. Educated at Istanbul’s renowned […]

Officials for the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) were in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) at the start of the New Year to oversee the draw for this year’s World Cup. Sixteen teams, including North Cyprus, are taking part in the international football tournament being held in London between Thursday 31 May […]

The UK's first English language consumer publication (print/online) for British Turks and those interested in the world of Turks. We serve up an intelligent, informative and entertaining mix of articles. With quality writers and an unrivalled set of contacts in the UK, Turkey, North Cyprus and beyond, expect fresh perspectives and interesting insights with a healthy dose of humour to boot.

Classified Adverts

Mailing List

By joining our Mailing List, you will receive the latest T-VINE news and special offers by email. Just fill in the form below and don’t forget to click on the link in the confirmation email sent to you afterwards.